combing

[/ˈkoʊmɪŋ/]
noun, verb (gerund/present participle)pl: combings
penteação, penteado, pente
1. The act of arranging or cleaning hair with a comb
She started her morning routine with combing her long hair.
Ela começou sua rotina matinal com a penteação do cabelo longo.
2. A thorough search through something to find something specific
The police were combing the area for evidence.
A polícia estava vasculhando a área em busca de evidências.
3. Fibers or material removed from wool, cotton, or hair during the combing process
The combings from the sheep's wool were collected for later use.
Os fios retirados da lã da ovelha foram coletados para uso posterior.
4. To pass a comb through hair or fibers repeatedly
Combing through the tangled hair took patience.
Pentear o cabelo emaranhado exigiu paciência.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'penteação' and 'pentear' are the standard terms for hair combing, often part of daily personal hygiene routines. The metaphorical use of 'combing' (vasculhando/penteando) for thorough searching is commonly used in both Brazilian and American contexts when describing police or investigative activities. In Portuguese culture, the term 'pentear' carries historical significance related to grooming customs and social etiquette.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
brushinggroomingsearchingsweepingscouring
Antonyms / Antônimos
tanglingneglectingignoring

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
penteação
Standard term for the act of combing hair
Rio de Janeiro
penteação, pente
Colloquially may use 'pente' as both noun and verb
São Paulo
penteação, vasculhando
For searching context, 'vasculhando' is more commonly used
Portugal
pentear, penticar
Portuguese uses 'pentear' more frequently; 'penticar' is archaic/regional

Related Words

combhairgroombrushdetanglesearchfiber

Related Idioms & Phrases

combing through the details
combing the area
fine-tooth comb
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